Do you think this character is too far over the top? [Archive] - Wizards Community

Do you think this character is too far over the top? [Archive] - Wizards Community

Post/Author/DateTime Post
CapnSwashbuckler
02-27-05, 02:15 AM A buddy asked me to hop into his game because his party needs a wizard for awhile. The gig might be permanent, might not, but the initial plan is that it wasn't. It starts at third level, so I built a pretty typical tactical wizard: conjuration spells, extend spell, spell choices like Grease and Glitterdust, that kinda stuff. I was inspired by a sig on these boards, and named my character Hungry Jack.

It's the character's personality that I'm worried about.

He has a halfling fetish.
He's a human.
He's already made it clear that his goal in life is to learn to cast a high enough-level polymorph spell to transform into a gigantic snake then swallow whole the next person who gets in his way.
He's tall, thin, lanky, almost gaunt, and always eating.
He's already had a chance to show off his knowledge of Infernal and Abyssal, bothering the rest of the mostly-good party.
While he does good things to balance it out, he's shown a complete lack of reluctance to commit evil acts like slashing the throats of enemies while they're asleep or summoning evil creatures.

The other players in this campaign are all newbs who have either one or no campaigns under their belts, so I'm also teaching them about teamwork, rules, and tactics while we play. Do you think I'm going overboard with the perversion and wierdness on this character?
tindin
02-27-05, 02:29 AM well whould you rather inspire a group of new comers to the game with roleplaying or just teach them rules in stuff... or another way to look at it would be do you always take time to make your chars if so why stop doing it for others...
Thracos
02-27-05, 02:29 AM If the other PLAYERS, not their characters, can handle it, then i say go for it. Role playing can be about doing goffy stuff now and again, espacialy if it's a temp character. If the other players are uncomfortable with how your playing that character, then you might want to change his personality allittle so as not to scare the newbies away from the game.
Super Guy
02-27-05, 04:04 PM Yeah, like said, if the players can handle it you can do it. But if you're weirding them out, then you're not really making a good impression on the game.

They'll be like "Oh.. maybe this isn't what I thought it was. It's creepy"

If you notice they're being weirded out, just be like "Eh, I'm tired of that act, I was just kidding around" and have your character be a little less over-the-top, so to speak.
mcnoo
02-27-05, 04:31 PM He has a halfling fetish.
He's a human.
He's already made it clear that his goal in life is to learn to cast a high enough-level polymorph spell to transform into a gigantic snake then swallow whole the next person who gets in his way.
He's tall, thin, lanky, almost gaunt, and always eating.
He's already had a chance to show off his knowledge of Infernal and Abyssal, bothering the rest of the mostly-good party.
While he does good things to balance it out, he's shown a complete lack of reluctance to commit evil acts like slashing the throats of enemies while they're asleep or summoning evil creatures.

Well, i don't want to sound smug (what am i saying? of course i do) but it sounds too much like my ever-appearing-in-my-posts drow, Yeknom, (who is far too much like a schitsophrenic alter ego for my own good, on occasion people tell that i've lapsed into his voice at times when i'm being devious without noticing) who despite being awkward to work with in character, is a source of endless entertainment to the players.

He has a borderline fey fetish.
He's a drow
He's already made it clear that his goal in life is to rule the world so he can retire, live with the fey folk and order everyone else in the world not to bother him
He's tall (for an elf), thin, lanky, almost gaunt, and always eating.
He's got a natural INT of 20 and often insults the party in languages they don't know while telling them it's an old proverb.
Is utter evil scum in some aspects, such as his sadistic tendancies towards prisoners he's taken, but also an amazingly nice person towards he feels society is sh*tting on, like orphans and prisoners of the establishment.

The character can be as awful and awkward as you like, so long as you do do it WELL.
Master Of Twists
02-28-05, 08:53 AM I do not think it over exaggerated in any way, it will help the players make their characters more exiting in the future as the natural human reaction of watching an almighty and bizaare character is jealousy. They will be jealous of the fact that they are being lead by a more powerful and experienced character and as a result, will make more of an effort to be strong in the future. This will allow you to see the potential that they possess and will also allow you to throw at them any kind of challenge you wish, no matter how bizaare you may think it is.
CzarGarrett
02-28-05, 11:12 AM I wouldn't consider it over the top.

But thats just me.
Meyverya
02-28-05, 11:21 AM Hmmm... well. I think your character is really over the top. If you are playing in a campaign that is supposed to be purely humourous, that character would be great. However, if you are playing seriously I suggest taking a few of your characters elements out. Halfling fetish.... okay, thats alright. I just means that your player has a fetish for adults who look... like children. Thats kinda really creepy, no? Why does he want to have the experience of cannibalising someone as a larger animal? Some kinda power-trip? Some sort of strange serial killer sex fetish? The book of vile darkness states that eating a sentient being is VILE, not just evil, but VILE. We wont even touch pedophilia ( borderline, halfings are just a step above kids, being that they can consent). Sure, I know people who are tall and skinny and do nothing but eat. Okay, why did your character learn infernal and abyssal? Was is necessary due to your characters curiousity with the outer planes? As an intelligent person and a neat character thing, you might want to keep your knowledge a secret to keep you from being burned at the stake or scaring your less-in-the-know party members. Tone that down. What alignment is your dude? Unless he is evil, he should not be doing evil things. Period. Unless you have a super good reason as to why your doing them, then maybe, depending on circomstance, you could pass with a neutral alignment. Its murder to slit a throat in their sleep. As challenging as killing a baby. And just about as honourable. Believe it or not, there are good acts, neutral acts and evil acts. Each alignment has their own ethos and mindset. So forgive me if this is a humourous campaign. But this guy is one weird sick guy, a la Edmund Kemper, and not good or neutral, but evil. And a very bad example for newbies as they will forget to see the role of player as realistically acting out a part, but goofing off and lessening the experience and future experiences of newbies. Look at your character from a realistic point of view and ask yourself how comfy you are with having sex with children and eating people alive. Once again, forgive me if you are playing a campaign that is humourous and lacks realism.

If you are playing serious, I would suggest, if you want to keep a lot of this, play the stereotypical conjurer type. Dont tell people your secret desires and wants and abilities as they could not possibly understand you. If you are good, maybe worry about your eating people fetishes and halfling fetishes, seeing them as possibly the beginnings of something terrible. Also, dont summon evil things unless you absoloutely have no choice. If you are neutral, act on your desire with halflings, but not your weird cannibalising one, you may still summon evil things occasionally but not exclusively.Keep the shroud of mystery about you with all of the alignments.If evil, stick with the way you are. After all, the book of vile darkness states that cannibalism and pedophilia ( borderline) is vile, so be that vile person you are. But be more discreet.

I would state that your character, as it stands was either Lawful Evil, for his desire to dominate and possess ( consumption as a way of possessing and most adults have fetishes for smaller, more helpless things because they are more easy to control). Or chaotic evil for just being an all around sick person. I am sure this all looks humourous on the surface, but if playing seriously and being an example for new players, this character is a bad choice. I am sorry if I have offended, and yes, I am a bit of a criminal psychology buff. But I would use your character as a villain, as I DM lots. Ask yourself why your character has these fetishes. The drow who had the fey fetish is a whole lot more acceptable, because he was a drow and evil. Why does your character want to eat people and have sex with a race, that even at their oldest, look like children?
ChimericalWolf
03-01-05, 04:37 AM The char is a bit wierd, but is acceptable for the right campaign. I would suggest, for the purposes of this game, that you tone it down a bit. In my group, we're currently bringing in new people, and I, as an experianced player, try to take a backseat. Encourage them, play someone who will support their roleplaying, not someone who'll dominate it. I'd cut the halfling fetish, might scare some people off.

The polymorph/snake thing is premeditated murder. That's not a very good thing. Cutting the throats of sleeping enemies is Chaotic, not Evil. If even that. It's certainly not good, it would be far better (from a Good alignment point of view) to tie them up, but in the absence of ability to safely debilitate them, death might be the proper response, and killing them in their sleep is no worse than giving them a kick and letting them put on their armor and such.

As it stands, I'd put your character at about True Neutral. Summoning Evil critters at that point is the thing to do if they're more use than the good or neutral critters available. The language thing is just a quirk.
Iyestorm
03-01-05, 10:33 PM depends on the maturity level of the group.
danielinthewolvesden
03-02-05, 03:21 AM Over the top. Cut it back some, hmm? The snake thing is just too weird, and the halfling thing is something that most would keep secret. Nothing wrong with a bit o' weird but..... :noway: :mymy: :blink:
Afarian
03-02-05, 12:03 PM OK, first I have a few questions about this guy
1. First when you say "fetish" what exactly do you mean? Is he physically attracted to halflings? And is it just members of the opposite sex or both?
Is he attracted to them because they are short and petite (pretty normal, I know people who like petite woman) or because they kinda look like children?
2. The snake thing is rather disturbing. Why would he want to eat someone? Is he secretly cannibalistic? Either way, if I were the party I would get rid of him before he gets access to that spell.
3. Why did he learn or know Abyssal and Infernal?
4. Is summoning evil creatures (fiendish I'm guessing) count as an evil act? Or is it something a good character shouldn't do and something that might cause him to move torwards evil?
What kind of "enemies" are we talking about? The evil Ogre Chieftan your hunting down to kill? Or a corrupt human (who hasn't twith which it would be better to negotiate?
CapnSwashbuckler
03-03-05, 02:11 AM OK, first I have a few questions about this guy
1. First when you say "fetish" what exactly do you mean? Is he physically attracted to halflings? And is it just members of the opposite sex or both?
Is he attracted to them because they are short and petite (pretty normal, I know people who like petite woman) or because they kinda look like children?
2. The snake thing is rather disturbing. Why would he want to eat someone? Is he secretly cannibalistic? Either way, if I were the party I would get rid of him before he gets access to that spell.
3. Why did he learn or know Abyssal and Infernal?
4. Is summoning evil creatures (fiendish I'm guessing) count as an evil act? Or is it something a good character shouldn't do and something that might cause him to move torwards evil?
What kind of "enemies" are we talking about? The evil Ogre Chieftan your hunting down to kill? Or a corrupt human (who hasn't twith which it would be better to negotiate?

1. It's a physical attraction to female halflings. This had to do with diplomacy and party make-up: I figure that in a world with multiple races a dude's gunna go for something exotic for some fun. He'll prolly settle down with someone of his own race, but he'll play around a bit first if the chance comes up. There's a half-elf and a gnome in the party, which makes those options less-than-politic, and that leaves dwarves, half-orcs, and halflings. And it's more the former than latter - as funny as a running pedophilia joke would be that's something I just don't need. That's a level of perversion I'm not ready for. Although it doesn't make it that much less creepy.

2. I was inspired by someone's sig which quoted Frank Trollman, talking about the rogue named Hungry Jack who used a bonus feat to take Gape of the Serpent. Except I was already determined to create a wizard, so I asked myself, "How can I eventually eat people?"

3. During character creation, the DM suggested it after I noted that I still had bonus languages to fill out and offhandedly commented that except for perhaps the Celestial Bison, most of my favorite early summons are from the evil side of the ledger. So she's like, "the bonus languages for humans is listed as 'any'...you could take infernal and abyssal and talk to your pets!" So I did.

4. If you use a Summon Monster spell to whip up an evil creature, the spell gains the [evil] descriptor. Similar for a good creature.

As for enemies I've tried to kill in their sleep, they were bugbears who'd been holding my character captive. (We used the 'freed prisoner' intro.)

By the way, thanks for all the responses you guys! You've been a great audience and sounding board. It's a humorous campaign, but even still I think I have been a bit blatant with a few things. Besides, it'd be funnier if I just hinted at the snake thing and any potential dark ties such as language.

Post/Author/DateTime	Post
CapnSwashbuckler 02-27-05, 02:15 AM	A buddy asked me to hop into his game because his party needs a wizard for awhile. The gig might be permanent, might not, but the initial plan is that it wasn't. It starts at third level, so I built a pretty typical tactical wizard: conjuration spells, extend spell, spell choices like Grease and Glitterdust, that kinda stuff. I was inspired by a sig on these boards, and named my character Hungry Jack. It's the character's personality that I'm worried about. He has a halfling fetish. He's a human. He's already made it clear that his goal in life is to learn to cast a high enough-level polymorph spell to transform into a gigantic snake then swallow whole the next person who gets in his way. He's tall, thin, lanky, almost gaunt, and always eating. He's already had a chance to show off his knowledge of Infernal and Abyssal, bothering the rest of the mostly-good party. While he does good things to balance it out, he's shown a complete lack of reluctance to commit evil acts like slashing the throats of enemies while they're asleep or summoning evil creatures. The other players in this campaign are all newbs who have either one or no campaigns under their belts, so I'm also teaching them about teamwork, rules, and tactics while we play. Do you think I'm going overboard with the perversion and wierdness on this character?
tindin 02-27-05, 02:29 AM	well whould you rather inspire a group of new comers to the game with roleplaying or just teach them rules in stuff... or another way to look at it would be do you always take time to make your chars if so why stop doing it for others...
Thracos 02-27-05, 02:29 AM	If the other PLAYERS, not their characters, can handle it, then i say go for it. Role playing can be about doing goffy stuff now and again, espacialy if it's a temp character. If the other players are uncomfortable with how your playing that character, then you might want to change his personality allittle so as not to scare the newbies away from the game.
Super Guy 02-27-05, 04:04 PM	Yeah, like said, if the players can handle it you can do it. But if you're weirding them out, then you're not really making a good impression on the game. They'll be like "Oh.. maybe this isn't what I thought it was. It's creepy" If you notice they're being weirded out, just be like "Eh, I'm tired of that act, I was just kidding around" and have your character be a little less over-the-top, so to speak.
mcnoo 02-27-05, 04:31 PM	He has a halfling fetish. He's a human. He's already made it clear that his goal in life is to learn to cast a high enough-level polymorph spell to transform into a gigantic snake then swallow whole the next person who gets in his way. He's tall, thin, lanky, almost gaunt, and always eating. He's already had a chance to show off his knowledge of Infernal and Abyssal, bothering the rest of the mostly-good party. While he does good things to balance it out, he's shown a complete lack of reluctance to commit evil acts like slashing the throats of enemies while they're asleep or summoning evil creatures. Well, i don't want to sound smug (what am i saying? of course i do) but it sounds too much like my ever-appearing-in-my-posts drow, Yeknom, (who is far too much like a schitsophrenic alter ego for my own good, on occasion people tell that i've lapsed into his voice at times when i'm being devious without noticing) who despite being awkward to work with in character, is a source of endless entertainment to the players. He has a borderline fey fetish. He's a drow He's already made it clear that his goal in life is to rule the world so he can retire, live with the fey folk and order everyone else in the world not to bother him He's tall (for an elf), thin, lanky, almost gaunt, and always eating. He's got a natural INT of 20 and often insults the party in languages they don't know while telling them it's an old proverb. Is utter evil scum in some aspects, such as his sadistic tendancies towards prisoners he's taken, but also an amazingly nice person towards he feels society is sh*tting on, like orphans and prisoners of the establishment. The character can be as awful and awkward as you like, so long as you do do it WELL.
Master Of Twists 02-28-05, 08:53 AM	I do not think it over exaggerated in any way, it will help the players make their characters more exiting in the future as the natural human reaction of watching an almighty and bizaare character is jealousy. They will be jealous of the fact that they are being lead by a more powerful and experienced character and as a result, will make more of an effort to be strong in the future. This will allow you to see the potential that they possess and will also allow you to throw at them any kind of challenge you wish, no matter how bizaare you may think it is.
CzarGarrett 02-28-05, 11:12 AM	I wouldn't consider it over the top. But thats just me.
Meyverya 02-28-05, 11:21 AM	Hmmm... well. I think your character is really over the top. If you are playing in a campaign that is supposed to be purely humourous, that character would be great. However, if you are playing seriously I suggest taking a few of your characters elements out. Halfling fetish.... okay, thats alright. I just means that your player has a fetish for adults who look... like children. Thats kinda really creepy, no? Why does he want to have the experience of cannibalising someone as a larger animal? Some kinda power-trip? Some sort of strange serial killer sex fetish? The book of vile darkness states that eating a sentient being is VILE, not just evil, but VILE. We wont even touch pedophilia ( borderline, halfings are just a step above kids, being that they can consent). Sure, I know people who are tall and skinny and do nothing but eat. Okay, why did your character learn infernal and abyssal? Was is necessary due to your characters curiousity with the outer planes? As an intelligent person and a neat character thing, you might want to keep your knowledge a secret to keep you from being burned at the stake or scaring your less-in-the-know party members. Tone that down. What alignment is your dude? Unless he is evil, he should not be doing evil things. Period. Unless you have a super good reason as to why your doing them, then maybe, depending on circomstance, you could pass with a neutral alignment. Its murder to slit a throat in their sleep. As challenging as killing a baby. And just about as honourable. Believe it or not, there are good acts, neutral acts and evil acts. Each alignment has their own ethos and mindset. So forgive me if this is a humourous campaign. But this guy is one weird sick guy, a la Edmund Kemper, and not good or neutral, but evil. And a very bad example for newbies as they will forget to see the role of player as realistically acting out a part, but goofing off and lessening the experience and future experiences of newbies. Look at your character from a realistic point of view and ask yourself how comfy you are with having sex with children and eating people alive. Once again, forgive me if you are playing a campaign that is humourous and lacks realism. If you are playing serious, I would suggest, if you want to keep a lot of this, play the stereotypical conjurer type. Dont tell people your secret desires and wants and abilities as they could not possibly understand you. If you are good, maybe worry about your eating people fetishes and halfling fetishes, seeing them as possibly the beginnings of something terrible. Also, dont summon evil things unless you absoloutely have no choice. If you are neutral, act on your desire with halflings, but not your weird cannibalising one, you may still summon evil things occasionally but not exclusively.Keep the shroud of mystery about you with all of the alignments.If evil, stick with the way you are. After all, the book of vile darkness states that cannibalism and pedophilia ( borderline) is vile, so be that vile person you are. But be more discreet. I would state that your character, as it stands was either Lawful Evil, for his desire to dominate and possess ( consumption as a way of possessing and most adults have fetishes for smaller, more helpless things because they are more easy to control). Or chaotic evil for just being an all around sick person. I am sure this all looks humourous on the surface, but if playing seriously and being an example for new players, this character is a bad choice. I am sorry if I have offended, and yes, I am a bit of a criminal psychology buff. But I would use your character as a villain, as I DM lots. Ask yourself why your character has these fetishes. The drow who had the fey fetish is a whole lot more acceptable, because he was a drow and evil. Why does your character want to eat people and have sex with a race, that even at their oldest, look like children?
ChimericalWolf 03-01-05, 04:37 AM	The char is a bit wierd, but is acceptable for the right campaign. I would suggest, for the purposes of this game, that you tone it down a bit. In my group, we're currently bringing in new people, and I, as an experianced player, try to take a backseat. Encourage them, play someone who will support their roleplaying, not someone who'll dominate it. I'd cut the halfling fetish, might scare some people off. The polymorph/snake thing is premeditated murder. That's not a very good thing. Cutting the throats of sleeping enemies is Chaotic, not Evil. If even that. It's certainly not good, it would be far better (from a Good alignment point of view) to tie them up, but in the absence of ability to safely debilitate them, death might be the proper response, and killing them in their sleep is no worse than giving them a kick and letting them put on their armor and such. As it stands, I'd put your character at about True Neutral. Summoning Evil critters at that point is the thing to do if they're more use than the good or neutral critters available. The language thing is just a quirk.
Iyestorm 03-01-05, 10:33 PM	depends on the maturity level of the group.
danielinthewolvesden 03-02-05, 03:21 AM	Over the top. Cut it back some, hmm? The snake thing is just too weird, and the halfling thing is something that most would keep secret. Nothing wrong with a bit o' weird but..... :noway: :mymy: :blink:
Afarian 03-02-05, 12:03 PM	OK, first I have a few questions about this guy 1. First when you say "fetish" what exactly do you mean? Is he physically attracted to halflings? And is it just members of the opposite sex or both? Is he attracted to them because they are short and petite (pretty normal, I know people who like petite woman) or because they kinda look like children? 2. The snake thing is rather disturbing. Why would he want to eat someone? Is he secretly cannibalistic? Either way, if I were the party I would get rid of him before he gets access to that spell. 3. Why did he learn or know Abyssal and Infernal? 4. Is summoning evil creatures (fiendish I'm guessing) count as an evil act? Or is it something a good character shouldn't do and something that might cause him to move torwards evil? What kind of "enemies" are we talking about? The evil Ogre Chieftan your hunting down to kill? Or a corrupt human (who hasn't twith which it would be better to negotiate?
CapnSwashbuckler 03-03-05, 02:11 AM	OK, first I have a few questions about this guy 1. First when you say "fetish" what exactly do you mean? Is he physically attracted to halflings? And is it just members of the opposite sex or both? Is he attracted to them because they are short and petite (pretty normal, I know people who like petite woman) or because they kinda look like children? 2. The snake thing is rather disturbing. Why would he want to eat someone? Is he secretly cannibalistic? Either way, if I were the party I would get rid of him before he gets access to that spell. 3. Why did he learn or know Abyssal and Infernal? 4. Is summoning evil creatures (fiendish I'm guessing) count as an evil act? Or is it something a good character shouldn't do and something that might cause him to move torwards evil? What kind of "enemies" are we talking about? The evil Ogre Chieftan your hunting down to kill? Or a corrupt human (who hasn't twith which it would be better to negotiate? 1. It's a physical attraction to female halflings. This had to do with diplomacy and party make-up: I figure that in a world with multiple races a dude's gunna go for something exotic for some fun. He'll prolly settle down with someone of his own race, but he'll play around a bit first if the chance comes up. There's a half-elf and a gnome in the party, which makes those options less-than-politic, and that leaves dwarves, half-orcs, and halflings. And it's more the former than latter - as funny as a running pedophilia joke would be that's something I just don't need. That's a level of perversion I'm not ready for. Although it doesn't make it that much less creepy. 2. I was inspired by someone's sig which quoted Frank Trollman, talking about the rogue named Hungry Jack who used a bonus feat to take Gape of the Serpent. Except I was already determined to create a wizard, so I asked myself, "How can I eventually eat people?" 3. During character creation, the DM suggested it after I noted that I still had bonus languages to fill out and offhandedly commented that except for perhaps the Celestial Bison, most of my favorite early summons are from the evil side of the ledger. So she's like, "the bonus languages for humans is listed as 'any'...you could take infernal and abyssal and talk to your pets!" So I did. 4. If you use a Summon Monster spell to whip up an evil creature, the spell gains the [evil] descriptor. Similar for a good creature. As for enemies I've tried to kill in their sleep, they were bugbears who'd been holding my character captive. (We used the 'freed prisoner' intro.) By the way, thanks for all the responses you guys! You've been a great audience and sounding board. It's a humorous campaign, but even still I think I have been a bit blatant with a few things. Besides, it'd be funnier if I just hinted at the snake thing and any potential dark ties such as language.